Agathe: Once upon a time, in the hidden heart of France, a handsome young prince lived in a beautiful castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was selfish and unkind. He taxed the village to fill his castle with the most beautiful objects, and his parties with the most beautiful people. Then one night, an unexpected intruder arrived at the castle, seeking shelter from the bitter storm. As a gift, she offered the prince a single rose. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince turned the woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. When he dismissed her again, the old woman's outward appearance melted away to reveal a most beautiful enchantress. The prince begged her for forgiveness. But it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there. As days bled into years, the prince and his servants were forgotten by the world, for the enchantress had erased all memory of them from the minds of the people they loved. But the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?
Lumière: You must forgive first impressions. I hope you are not too startled.
Belle: Why would I be startled? I'm talking to a candle.
Lumière: Candelabra, please. Enormous difference.
LeFou: And his name's G-A-S-T... I believe there's another T... It just occurred to me that I'm illiterate and I've never actually had to spell it out loud before.
Cogsworth: You know she will never love him.
Lumière: A broken clock is right two times a day, mon ami. But this is not one of those times.
Madame Garderobe: The fat lady is singing!
Maurice: I love you, Belle. Don't be afraid.
Belle: I love you, too, Papa. I'm not afraid. And I will escape. I promise.
Gaston: [To his reflection] You are the wildest, most gorgeous thing I've ever seen! Nobody deserves you.
Lumière: Sacre bleu! Invaders.
Lumière: Cogsworth, look! A beautiful girl!
Cogsworth: Yes, I can see it's a girl; I've lost my hands, not my eyes.
Lumière: What if she is the one? The one who will break the spell?
Answer: It was never specified how long the curse had been in effect.
raywest ★